Mountain cable-way cabins



June 19, 1963 G.GRE1L 3,094,079

MOUNTAIN CABLE-WAY CABINS Filed Feb. 24, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 18,1963 G.-GREIL 3,094,079

MOUNTAIN CABLE-WAY CABINS Filed Feb. 24, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. GREILMOUNTAIN CABLE-WAY CABINS June 18, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 24,1961 June 18, 1963 GRElL 3,094,079

MOUNTAIN CABLE-WAY CABINS Filed Feb. 24, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 U tStates Pa 3,094,079 MOUNTAIN CABLE-WAY CABINS Gerhart Greil, 7Fischerstrasse, Innsbruck, Austria Filed Feb. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 91,500Claims priority, application Austria Feb. 27, 1960 7 Claims. (Cl.105-150) The present invention relates to a cable way cabin having a cupshaped roof.

Spherical-shaped cable-way cabins are known. The

inconvenience in such cabins is that there is generally too much room inone part and too little in another.

Furthermore, the sphere projects relatively too far out part takingplace through curved surfaces with increasing radii of curvature.

Thereby the cabin may be symmetrical with reference to the verticalmedian plane extending in the direction of travel. The symmetry,however, may also bergiven with reference to the vertical median planeextending :perpendicular to the direction of travel. F or small cabins,

however, it has proved advantageous to build cabins provided with anapproximate ellipsoid roof dissymmetrical with reference to the verticalmedian plane extending perpendicular to the direction of travel andprojecting substantially more on one side than on the other. In

this case a single or double chair may be so installed that the backrestpertains to the less projectingpart of the cabin, while the other widerpart ofthe cabin contains the seating area with sufiicient room for thefeet.

' For a single chair the wall pertaining to the less projecting part ofthe cabin may come in for direct or indirect use in building thebackrest.

To give the cabin the form of a curved body it is advantageous that thecontact points between the curved jacket surfaces and their verticaltangential planes extend- Iing perpendicular to the direction oftravelshould lie in a higher plane in the less projecting part of thecabin than those in the other part. If the cabin is made of twoindividual construction units it will be advantageous to give the unitssuch outline shapes as to permlt their being mounted rotatably withinone another, whereby the more projecting part may rotate about a swivel.axis with reference to the less projecting part-rigidly 'counected tothe suspension. a

For the cabin walls extending along various-curvatures in the variouszones of the cabin there may be used plastics especially plastics of theunsaturated polyester resins Several embodiments of the invention willnow be described,by way of example, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. It will be understood that the scope .of the invention is notlimited to suchembodiments, or otherwisethan by the terms of theappendedclaims.

FIGS. 1, 2, .3 and 4 relateto an embodiment for a 5 large size cab-incontaining for example four seats. FIGS.

5 and 6 relate to anembodiment of a cabin for a double it lift-chair,while FIGS. 7 to 13 relate to a one-seat cabin, FIG. 11 showing a slightvariation ofillustrated in FIG. 7.

. FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view.

the embodiment FIGS. 2, 5, 7 and 11 are sideviews,

point 25 of the farthest projection of the rotatable half.

' parts.

this embodiment.

3,094,079 Patented June 18, 1963 ice FIGS. 3 and 8 are front views,

FIG. 6 is a horizontal section view along a line A, B in FIG. 5, 7

FIG. 10 is a front view of an open cabin,

FIGS. 12 and 13 show details of attaching the partly rigid and partlyrotatable cabin parts to a supporting rod of the suspension.

The cabin according to the invention shows in all embodiments anapproximate ellipsoid roof 1, a middle part 2 provided with doors 30 andwindows 31, a preferably plane bottom 4 and a transition zone 3 betweensaid middle part 2 and said bottom 4. The middle part 2 is substantiallyless curved than the roof 1 and especially less than the transition zone3. As visible in FIGS. 2 and 3, the distance between the jacket part 2and the vertical cable plane 5 is substantially less than the distancebetween the jacket part 2 and the median plane 6 normal to said verticalplane. The cabin illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 is symmetric as well withreference to the plane 5 as with reference to the plane 6. By means ofhubs 28 the cabin is connected through its roof part by the suspension29 to the mechanism rolling along the supporting cable 37; It is clearfrom the special form of the cabin how the combination of various curvedparts according to the invention supplies sufficient room for theseating areas in a minimum size cabin. Moreover the deliberateexploitation of curved surfaces and the special cabin constructionaccording to the invention reduces the wind resistance.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 is particularly suitable fora double lift-chair. The cabin has no door, per se, but opens by beingconstructed of two A supporting rod 32 extending throughout the heightof the cabin is rigidly connected to the cabin half represented on theleft side. The other cabin half on the right-side in FIG. 5 is rotatablymounted about the 'vertical supporting tube 32. The cabin half rigidlyconnected to the supporting tube 32 projects from said tube a distance 8which is less than the distance 7 corresponding to the projection of thecabin half rotatably mounted on said supporting tube 32. Both cabinhalves are providedwith windows 31. There is no use for a door in Adouble chair 10 indicated in dashline in FIG. 6 extends on both sides ofthe supporting rod 32. Its'backrest 12 is disposed in the rigidly con-.nected cabin half, while its seating areall projects into the rotatablecabin half. The full lines in FIG. 5 show the cabin in closed position,the open position of the front cabin half being indicated by thedash-line 33. It can be seen from FIG. 5 that both cabin halves frameinto one another. The small clearance 27 between both profiles must besufiicientto ensure a correct opening and closing without jamming.Further it is apparent from FIG. S-thatthe point 23 of the farthestprojection of the rigidly connected cabin half is much higher than Thecorresponding vertical tangential planes perpendicular to the directionof. travel are indicated by the reference numerals 24 and 26. j

The single-chair cabin illustrated in FIGS. 7-11 also rod or tubematching the contour of the rigidly connected I cabin half. Thesupporting tube starting from the cable 1 extends downwardly as avertical part 13 into the roof lris a downwardly extending zone 15substantially vertical alongthe jacket part 2 continuing in a sharplybent transiregion (FIG. 7) of the cabin and then projects into a bentportion following the shape of the roof of the rigidly connected cabinhalf. Adjacent to said bent portion 14 tion zone '3 adjacent the lowerpart of the cabin jacket and ending in a sharply bent-zone '16 continuedas a horizontal part. The roof 1 and the bottom 4 are provided with hubs20, 21 providing for the rotation of the rotatable cabin half about anaxis projected along the vertical tube 13.

To support the seating area 11 of the single'chair 9 the supporting tubeor a prolonging member 17 connected thereto may extend from the regionof the hub 21 till it reaches under the seat 11. It can be seen from thedrawing that here also the point 23 of the farthest projection of therigidly connected cabin half is less distant from the vertical medianplane 6 than the point 25 of the farthest projection 7 of the rotatablecabin half. The corresponding tangential planes are indicated by thereference numerals 24 and 26. FIG. 8 shows how advantageously the seat11 and the backrest 12 of the single chair can be installed in thecabin. It must be considered that in FIG. 8 only the verticallyextending upper portion of the supporting rod 13 is visible and thatsaid rod does not extend into the region of the seating area 11 butextends as a part 15 along the rear limit of the cabin jacket because ofthe bent shape of the rod. Since the width of the seating area 11 israther smaller than the width of the rigidly connected cabin half thereis still sufficient room for the rest 34. The front view of 'FIG.'9shows the closed cabin'with a large window area 31 allowing free sight.The flat bottom gives comfortable room for the feet. FIG. is a frontview of the cabin in open position. The advantages of thearrangementaccording to the invention are apparent from FIGS. 7, 9 and10. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11 differs from that in FIG. 7merely by the shape ofthe lowerportion of the supporting tube. In saidembodiment, thevertical portion of said supportingtube extends nofurther than the seating area 11 where as a horizontal part'18 it formsa support for said seat 11. Starting from said horizontal part 18 itbends into a vertical portion 19 coaxial to the axis of the supportingtube zone13. FIGS. 7 andll show in dash-line 33 the open position of therotatable cabin half. The bearing of the supporting rod merely indicatedin FIGS. 5, 7 and 11 is shown enlarged in -FIGS. l2 and-l3. Theillustration comprises a vertical supporting tube 32 though conditionswill be the same if the tube-isbent like in FIGS. 7 and 11. The-Wall 38of the stationary cabin part is rigidly connected'to the supporting tube32. In this embodiment the border parts of the wall 38 are retained bydiscs 35. 'Said' discs 35 may be,-for example by welding 39v or-bolts'40, rigidly connected to the supporting'tube 32. Spaced from the discs35 are the hubs '20, 21 which also are disc-shaped and clamp the bordersof the rotatable part of the cabin wall 41. The hubs 20, 21 areabletorotate'about the supporting tube'32.

Variations are, of course, possible without departing from the scope ofthe, invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A cable-way cabincomprising a housing of two sections with a line ofoverlap in a firstplane along the direction of travel of said cabin,each of said sections being symmetric with itself about a second planeperpendicular to said first plane and asymmetric with each other aboutsaid first plane so that one of said sections may frame the other,meansforzpivotably connecting said sections substantially at pointsalong the line of intersection of said first and second planes to enablepivotal movement of .said one section to a position wheresaid onesection frames the other. section to allow entry into and egress fromthe cabin and means fixed to thetop of said sections in the region ofthe intersection of said planes for engaging a cable tosuspend the cabintherefrom.

2. A cable-way cabin comprising a housing of two sections with a line ofoverlap in a first plane along the direction of travel ofsaid.cabin,-each of said sectionsbeing symmetric with itself about asecond plane perpendicular to "said first plane and asymmetric with eachother about said first plane so that one'of said sections may frame theother, the top portions of each section being ellipsoidal with a majoraxis along the direction of travel, the mid portions first extendingdownward with decreasing curva' ture to a central region and thenextending downward with increasing curvature to a substantially flat'bottom portion, means for pivotably connecting said sections sub--tially at points along the line of intersection of said first and secondplanes to enable pivotal movement of said one section to a positionwhere said one section frames the other section to allow entry into andegress from the cabin, andrneans fixed to the top of said sections inthe region of the intersection of said planes for engaging a cable tosuspend the cabin therefrom.

3. A cable-way cabin comprising a housing of two sections with a line ofoverlap in a first plane along the direction of travel of said cabin,each of said sections being symmetric with itself about a second planeperpendicular to said first plane and asymmetric with each other aboutsaid first plane so that one of said sections may frame the other, thetop portions of each section being ellipsoidal with a major axis alongthe direction of travel, the mid portions first extending downward withdecreasing curvature to a central region and then extending downwardwith increasing curvature to a substantially fiat bottom portion, meansfor pivotally connecting said sections substantially at points along theline of intersection of said first and second planes to enable pivotalmovement of said one section to a position where said one section framesthe and means fixed to the top of said support rod for engaging a cableto suspend the cabin therefrom.

4. A cable-way cabin comprising a housing of two sections with a line ofoverlap in a first plane along the direction of'travel of said cabin,each of said, sections, being symmetric with itself about a second planeperpendicular to said first plane and asymmetric with each other aboutsaid first plane so that one of said sectionsmay frame the other, thetop portions of each section beingellipsoidal with a major axis alongthe direction of travel, the mid portions first extending downward withdecreasing curvature to a central region and then extending downwardwith increasing curvature to a substantially flat bottom portion, meansfor pivotably connecting said sections substantially at points along theline of intersection of said first and .second planes to enable pivotalmovement of said one sectionto a position where said one section framesthe other section to allow entry into and egress from the cabins, saidmeans including top and bottom hub means in the top and bottom of saidsections where said line of intersection intersects said sections, asupport rod extending fromsaid top hub means along the inner side of oneof said sections to said bottom hub means, and means fixed to the top ofsaid support rod for engaging a cable to suspend the cabin therefrom.

5. The cable-way cabin of claim 4 wherein said support rod extends alongsaid inner side to said central region and then extends horizontallytoward said line of intersection and then downward along said line ofintersection to said bottom hub means, and including chair means fixedto the horizontal portion of said support rod.

6. Apparatus comprising a cable-way cabin having a determinabledirection of travel comprising a substantially ell psoidal roof parthaving a major axis which lies along said direction ,of travel, a jacketpart coupled to said roof part and extending with a decreasing curvatureabout halfway down said cabin, a bottom part coupled to said jacketpart, said jacket part further extending with increasing curvaturedownwardly to said bottom part, the connection to said bottom parttaking place through curved surfaces 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6,further including with increasing radius of curvature, means connectingsaid a chair in said cabin and including a seat portion extendpartstogether to provide a smooth outer contour for said ing fromthe jacketpart on one side of said plane.

cabin, means connected to said roof part for engaging a References Citedin the file of this Patent oable, said cabin being asymmetrical withreference to la 5 vertical median plane extending perpendicular to saiddi- UNITED STATES PATENTS :rection of travel, said cabin projectingsubstantially more 489,3 30 Rutt J 3, 1 93 to one side of said planethan to the other side thereof, 1,628,595 Kruckenberg et a1 May 10, 1927and windows distributed throughout said jacket palt. 2,662,587 McllvaineDec. 15, 1953

1. A CABLE-WAY CABIN COMPRISING A HOUSING OF TWO SECTIONS WITH A LINE OFOVERLAP IN A FIRST PLANE ALONG THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF SAID CABIN,EACH OF SAID SECTIONS BEING SYMMETRIC WITH ITSELF ABOUT A SECOND PLANEPERPENDICULAR TO SAID FIRST PLANE AND ASYMMETRIC WITH EACH OTHER ABOUTSAID FIRST PLANE SO THAT ONE OF SAID SECTIONS MAY FRAME THE OTHER, MEANSFOR PIVOTABLY CONNECTING SAID SECTIONS SUBSTANTIALLY AT POINTS ALONG THELINE OF INTERSECTION OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PLANES TO ENABLE PIVOTALMOVEMENT OF SAID ONE SECTION TO A POSITION WHERE SAID ONE SECTION